Flexible spring cushion



Sept. 16, 1941. GWBRETOL. 256,236

FLEXIBLE SPRING CUSHION Filed June 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

pt- 1941? G. w. BRISTOL 2,256,236

FLEXIBLE SPRING CUSHION Filed June 15, .1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a L #v rr 0 I 511 .4

3 l2 dz ATTORNEY.

Sept. 16, 1941. G, w BmsT oL 2,256,236

FLEXIBLE SPRING CUSHION Filed June 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

QMSKEJMMBQ fiQ M 21222 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE SPRING CUSHION George W. Bristol, New York, N. Y. Application June 15, 1940, Serial No. 340,820

7 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a flexible spring cushion in which the parts may be readily assembled upon a previously assembled base and in which the parts form a plurality of separate units each yielding independently.

The invention is a flexible spring cushion formed of a plurality of relatively square caps resiliently held upward above a base by springs with the upward movement of the caps limited by the upper ends of studs in which downwardly extending members of the caps are slidably held, and in which the studs are formed on a plate secured on the base by clips.

Metal resilient pads of this type have been provided but the parts have been held to the base by placing the parts under the base strips and. this is objectionable because it is necessary to take down the whole pad to remove a broken part, and therefore it has been found necessary to provide clips on the upper side of the base for holding the individual units to the base, and also look the end caps in the adjoining caps.

The object of this invention is therefore, to improve flexible spring cushions by making it possible to mount the units upon the base independently facilitating removal thereof without disturbing adjoining units.

Another object is to provide flexible spring cushions having springs in which means is provided for preventing the springs turning.

Another object is to provide a flexible spring cushion having a plurality of units in which means is provided for locking the end units to the adjoining units.

4 A further object is to provide a flexible spring K cushion which may be used for automobile seats, laundry and pressing machine pads, and for pads and cushions of various types. I

And a still further object is to provide a flexible spring cushion in which each part is independently removable which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a base formed of interlocking longitudinal and transverse strips with upwardly extending studs removably mounted on the strips, caps with side members having inwardly extending projections slidable in said studs, and springs holding the caps upward.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a pad with parts omitted and parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a section through the base showing an end cap and a locking cap and their studs in elevation.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a center cap.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the base taken at right angles to that of Figure 2 showing one unit or cushion in elevation and one in section.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a base strip.

Figure 6 is a cross section through the base strip.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the base strip.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing part of one of the transverse strips.

Figure 9 is a cross section through the transverse strip.

Figure 10 is a side view of the transverse strip.

Figure ll is a plan view of an end cap.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a locking cap which is used to hold the end caps.

Figure 13 is a plan view of one of the caps used throughout the pad except at the edges and center.

Figure 14 is a plan View of a center cap.

Figure 15 is a typical section through the head of a cap.

Figure 16 is a similar section through the head of a locking cap taken at right angles to that of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a plan View of a stud for holding the caps to the base.

Figure 18 is an end view of the stud.

Figure 19 is a cross section through the stud.

Figure 20 shows a side view of the stud with part broken away.

Figure 21 shows a plurality of cushions with the caps in difierent positions and shows the method oi assembling a cap on a stud.

Figure 22 illustrates that one cap may be pressed downward without affecting the adjoining' caps.

In the drawings-the flexible spring cushion is shown as it may be made wherein numeral I indicates a cap, numeral 2, a stud, numeral 3, a spring, numeral 4 a base strip, and numeral 5, a transverse strip.

The caps are provided in several different designs as it is desirable to hold the end caps 6 by locking caps I, and at the center are caps 8 which are provided without extending tongues 9. The heads of the caps are formed with plates l0 and at the sides are downwardly extending sides [I and I2 with inwardly extending projections l3 and M at their lower ends, and in the center of the caps are bosses l5 with slots [6 for holding the ends of the springs with the springs centered on the bosses and prevented from turning by placing the ends thereof in the slots. The tongues I! of the end caps'are provided with openings I8 into which parts IQ of the caps I extend thereby securing the end caps in position.

All of the caps are similar except that the tongues are omitted from the center caps, and the tongues of the end caps are provided with openings for receiving the projections from the special or locking caps, and these caps are assembled on the studs with the springs in between and when assembling the projections l3 and M are placed through slots and 2|, in the upper .ends of the studs as shown in Figure 21, and when in place the projections limit the upward.

movement of the caps. The studs are provided with bosses 22 corresponding with the bosses, [5

of the caps and these also have slots 23 fo1' ho1d- The plates 2 forming the ends of the springs. ing the studs, are provided with hollow posts 24 and 25 at the sides in which the caps are slidably held, and inthe edges of the platesare notches 26 in one side and 21 in the other, and in ass'lipped in under bent over clips 28 0f the base strips and 29 ofgthe transverse strips, with the notches?! around projections 30 and 3| also of the base and transverse strips, and after the studs are in place the projections 30 and 3! are bent over as shown in Figure 2, thereby securing the studs to the base.

The base or foundation of the pad or cushion is formed with the base strips 4 and'the transverse strips 5 and the base strips'are bent up.- ward and downward alternating with'the rows of cushions or units andthe transverse strips are also bent upward and downward to correspond with the base strips, a transverse strip being used with every other row of cushions 'so that one row of cushions is mounted directly on raised portions of the base strips and'the next row on the transverse strips. The transverse strips are formed with slots 32 and the base strips with projections 33 that extend upward through the slotsand after they are in place the projections are bent over securing the strips together. The base strips are also formed with square lugs 36 that register with similarly shaped recesses 36 in the transverse strips providing locating and holding means and preventing twisting" at the intersections of the two sets of strips. The ends '31 of the strips may be bent downward and secured to side or end strips or bars *38 by rivets 39 as shown. in 'Figure2 if desired, however, it

will be understood that any means may be pro-.

vided for holding the pad or base thereof in position upon any surface or object, and it-will also the cushion without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of' which changes may be in the use of caps of any other shape or design, another may be in the use of other means for holding the end caps, and still another may be in the use of other means for holding the studs to the base or the like.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use the cushions are assembled to form a padwhich may be of any size, shape or design, and the individual cushions may also be of any shape or design, and with the cushions arranged in this manner a pad formed thereby may be used for cushions, upholstery, furniture, automobile seats and cushions, and laundry and pressing machines.

' 1 Having thus fully described the invention what lvclaim asnew and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

A flexible spring cushion of the type having a base, a stud with substantially Vertical sembling the studs on-the'base the notches 26 are be understood that the base and transverse strips maybe omitted and the studs-mounted directly upon any surface or object, and these may be held by any means.

It will' be understood that other changes may be made in the construction or arrangement of,

grooves therein, a cap with projections extending into said grooves and a spring resiliently urging said cap away'from said base and stud, characterized'in'that' the'stud is-removably held to the base byclips, andby inwardly extending bosses on the caps'and' studs for locatingthe ends of thesprings, said bosses having transverse slots for receiving straight sections at the-ends of the springs for preventing-the springs turning.

1 2. A device --as described in claim 1, further characterized by tongues at the sides of the caps adapted to extend in under the heads of adjoining caps.

3.A device as described in claim 1, further characterized by tongues at the sides of the caps adapted to extend under theheads of adjoining caps, and projections on the said adjoining caps adapted to extend into openings in the said tongues.

i 4. "A fiexible'spring cushion comprising a base having posts atthe sidesQacap slidable on said post, and means" resiliently urging said ca p away from said base, characterized in that the cap is readily removable from said base, and in which the resilient urging means comprises a spring, and bosses are provided onthe cap and base with transverse slots in the bosses forloc'ating and holding the ends of the springs.

5. A device as described inflclairn 4, in which tongues are provided on the side of the cap to extend under part of an adjoining cap.

6.A device as described in claim 4, in which tongues are provided at one side of the cap to extend in under part of an adjoining cap, said tongues having openings to receive projections of the said adjoining cap.

' 7. In combination with a device as described in claim 4, a supporting base comprising longitudinal and transverse strips, characterized in thatthe. transverse strips are recessed in the longitudinal strips.

GEORGE W. BRISTOL. 

